**Our Bickford Jam Was Amazing!** Sarah (resident) created one fantastic musical play list to get us all ready. Music was playing, the smiles were shining, and our residents had an amazing time at our latest Bickford Jam! We were thrilled to welcome the student nurses from Averett University, who spent time connecting with our residents and helped make the celebration even more fun and meaningful. What makes Bickford Jam so special is that it was **created by our residents!** The idea came from a conversation during our Resident Council meeting, demonstrating the power of resident choice and giving our residents a voice in shaping the community they call home. We’re already looking forward to our **Labor Day Bickford Jam!** Family and friends are invited to join us, dance, laugh, and enjoy this special time together. This is what a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle looks like—**resident choice, meaningful connections, purpose, and community!** #MontessoriMoments #BickfordOfChesapeake #ResidentChoice #BickfordJam #MeaningfulEngagement Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Walmart Outing: Choice, Connection & Independence! A trip to Walmart is more than just shopping—it’s an opportunity for our residents to make choices, stay connected to their community, and maintain independence in everyday life. Our Walmart outing supports a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle by encouraging purposeful activity, personal choice, independence, and engagement in the world around us. At Bickford, we believe everyday experiences can create meaningful moments! #MontessoriMoments #BickfordOfChesapeake #ResidentChoice #PurposefulEngagement Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

This photo features four members of our Bickford of Chesapeake leadership team: Jasmine Wright, Health and Wellness Director; Susan Vittori, Executive Director; Sherlisa Hicks, Montessori Engagement Coordinator; and Heather Starr-Cress, Family Advocate. While we certainly appreciate each of these ladies, the most important person in this moment was behind the camera—our resident, Charles! Montessori is about recognizing each resident’s abilities and creating meaningful opportunities for choice, independence, purpose and contribution. By taking on the role of photographer, Charles wasn’t simply watching the moment—he was actively participating and using his talents to help capture it. Sometimes Montessori in action looks just like this: not doing something for a resident, but creating opportunities to do it with them. Thank you, Charles, for being our photographer and making this special picture possible! Bickford of Virginia Beach Assisted Living and Memory Care

Sometimes, meaningful moments come from simply making time to show interest in the activities our residents enjoy. Recently, Jasmine Wright, our Health and Wellness Director, connected with Resident Catherine over their shared love of word puzzles. What may look like a simple puzzle is also time spent talking, laughing, and building trust. This is more than an activity—this is bonding time, and these personal connections are at the heart of what makes Bickford of Chesapeake feel like home. Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

A special thank-you to Helen Capra of BrightStar Care for hosting such an engaging Bingo event at Bickford of Chesapeake! Our residents had a wonderful time playing, laughing, and selecting their favorites from the fun prize table. We’re grateful for community partners like Helen who share their time and help create joyful moments for our residents! Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Our Senior Day at the Zoo was amazing! The sunshine lit our paths as we explored the Virginia Zoological Park in Norfolk, Virginia. For many of our residents, this was their first visit! We explored the various habitats and enjoyed one another and definitely relaxed in the shade with our ice cold water to quench our thirst. Our Centered Care Nurse Erica and our Montessori Engagement Coordinator Sherlisa made this outing a huge success for our senior zoo explorers! Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

We had an amazing Bickford Jam with the Summer Breeze Band! As soon as the guitars began echoing down the halls, we knew we were in for something special. Our residents enjoyed hearing songs that resonated with their life’s journeys, bringing back memories, smiles, and meaningful moments. The music created an atmosphere filled with connection, joy, and even a little dancing! At the end of the performance, our residents had one request: “Call them back again!” We think that’s a pretty good sign! **Montessori Moment:** Meaningful engagement is about connecting residents with experiences that honor their personal histories, interests, choices, and memories. Music is a wonderful way to support self-expression, social connection, and a sense of belonging. #MontessoriMoments #BickfordOfChesapeake #BickfordJam Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Family Bring & Brag: Sharing, Connecting and Celebrating! Our Saturday Family Day Bring & Brag event was truly special! Family members stopped by to spend meaningful time with their loved ones and share in the joy of our community. Bring & Brag is like Show and Tell with a special twist—it gives our residents an opportunity to share something meaningful while creating connections with family and friends. We are so proud of Catherine, Vancy, Netta, Jean, Janice, Phyllis and Burma who shared a piece of their lives and treasured memories with us! This wonderful activity supports our Montessori Inspired Lifestyle by encouraging self-expression, meaningful engagement, choice, and connection. Most importantly, it reminds us that every resident has a story worth sharing. Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

A Birthday Celebration Full of Joy Our birthday celebration was extra special with Greg Branigan keeping us tapping our toes, singing along, and having a grand ole time! Greg even taught us a new song that brought plenty of laughter, humor, and fun to the celebration. A heartfelt thank-you to Family Choice Funeral Cremations for their cupcake donation which made our birthday celebration even sweeter! At Bickford of Chesapeake, we love celebrating our residents and creating moments filled with connection, music, laughter, and joy. #BirthdayCelebration #MontessoriMoments #BickfordOfChesapeake Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care.

We are grateful for Elizabeth from the Virginia Cooperative Extension teaching our residents and our guest community how to make veggie and turkey wraps. It was an amazing hands-on experience as well as an opportunity to build confidence and connections. Our BFMs and residents were proactive from preparation to eating time.